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IIITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.`

F. ROESLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONSTRUCTION Speccation of Letters Patent No.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, F. RoEsLER, M. D., of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improved Uterine Supporter; and I do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a top view partly sectional of the instrument as it appears when not in use. Fig. 2, is a section of the same in the line y, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3, shows the instrument in the condition in which it is inw serted in the vagina. Fig. 4, exhibits it in the condition it assumes when in the vagina. In this view an additional supporting piece a, is shown which is only used to prevent anteversion or retroversion.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in the several figures.

This instrument is always composed of a ring and two supporting pieces, the said supporting pieces being connected to the ring by spring hinges which allow them to be folded to insert the instrument into the body, but which throw them into a proper position to support the uterus after the insertion of the instrument. These supporting pieces give sufficient support without having too great rigidity, which is injurious in the highest degree. In some cases an additional supporting-piece is applied to the ring to prevent anteversion or retroversion of the uterus.

To enable others skilled in the art to make I and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is the ring, and B, B, are the supporting pieces all being of metal and made hollow for the sake of obtaining the greatest degree of lightness. The ring is of circular form in its transverse section, as is illustrated in Fig. '2, and at opposite points has journals Z), Z), to receive the supporting pieces which are fitted to the said journals and secured by straps c, c. The hinge connections thus formed are furnished with suitable stops to prevent the supporting pieces moving downward relatively to the ring below the position shown in Fig. 2, viz., straight with the ring, but enables them to move upward as shown in Fig. 3, and coiled springs d, d, are applied within the hollow of the ring and to the supporting pieces in such a manner as always to have 0F PESSARIES.

14,293, dated February 19, 1856.

a tendency toV spread the supporting pieces, as shown in Fig. 2. These springs are coiled around an inner ring e. The supporting pieces are made broad at their extremities somewhat in the form of leaves, being connected with the hinges by stems. These stems are made in two parts, one of which parts is attached to the hinge having a pin f, see Fig. 2, which is received within a socket g, attached to the leaf part. This construction is toenable the supporting pieces to be adjusted in two directions, viz., 1st to set them obliquely to the ring by turning the socket on the pin, and 2nd to lengthen them when necessary by putting a ring on the pin f, to keep the socket g, farther o5. The socket g, may be secured against turning on the pins f, either by being fitted very tight-ly or by having teeth on the pins, and corresponding notches on the inside of the sockets.

To apply the instrument the operator compresses the supporting pieces together, as shown in Fig. 3, with the fingers and inserts it in the vagina with the ring toward the outside, and the leaves toward the sides of the patient, pushing it up until it reaches the basin at above the vagina where the supporting pieces will have room to spread and find a proper bearing to support the uterus. The ring forms the principal bearing for the uterus the weight of which will depress it slightly below the leaves, which being concave on their upper or inner faces will form a sort of cup to support the sides of the uterus. The elastic connections of the ring with the supporting pieces will enable the uterus to ride easily and prevent injury to it or the surrounding parts by concussion in stepping. In some instances where a very strong support is required the instrument may be used in an inverted position when the springs would be inoperative but this would only be in extreme cases. The extra supporting piece a, is of a hollow curved form on the side nearest the ring and is attached to a spring h, which is secured to the front or back of the ring according to whether it be intended for anteversion or retroversion.

This instrument enables the female to perform every function of nature as wife'and mother without removing it, and if plated or coated with incorrodible material may be worn for any length of time. It need not even be removed before parturition as it pieces A, A, to their hinge with a pin f, and socket g, or the equivalent thereof as herein described to allow of one or both of the supporting pieces being set obliquely to the ring, or extended lengthwise.

FRED. ROESLER.

Witnesses:

WM. TUsoHE, J. T. BUGKLEY. 

